Andrew Friedman says Dodgers have three ‘big wild cards’ to line up

The Dodgers are shuffling the deck, almost ready to deal and keenly aware there are three major wild cards out there.

They have names, too -- Yasiel Puig, Joc Pederson and Yasmani Grandal.

If all three are expected to be part of the Dodgers regular lineup next season, President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman made it clear in a conference call on the eve of the general managers meetings Monday in Florida, none is guaranteed a starting spot.

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Yesterday’s All-Star, today’s lineup uncertainty.

Asked if he expected Pederson and Grandal to bounce back from poor second halves and return as starters next season, Friedman said “I don’t know yet.” Then while saying how optimistic he was they could bounce back, he suddenly volunteered that Puig was in the same position.

“We’ll include Puig in that as well,” Friedman said. “I mean, those are three big wild cards heading into the 2016 season that we’ll do everything we can for them to be as good as they can in 2016.

“If that happens, I think we have a chance to have one of the more dynamic offenses in the National League. We’ll do everything we can this winter to put those guys in the best position to be successful as they can be in 2016. I think being around them for a year and seeing their work ethic and what they put into it, gives me a lot of optimism that they will be significant contributors for us next year.”

Pederson and Grandal were All-Stars last season, though both trailed off badly in the second half, Grandal largely because of an injured shoulder that was already operated on in the off-season. Pederson -- who hit .178 in the second half -- actually lost his job to fellow rookie Enrique Hernandez in August.

Puig hit just .224 after he had blister popped on his left hand June 22 and was bothered by hamstring issues throughout the season. He played in just 79 games. Friedman said keeping him healthy for a full season could be related to him slimming down. He was listed at 255 pounds by the Dodgers last season, after being listed at 235 in 2014.

“He has continued to get bigger and stronger each year,” Friedman said. “It may not be the optimal size for him to play 150-plus games. That’s a focus.”

Could Jenny Craig really be the answer to Puig’s troubles?

Friedman said additionally Puig developed some bad mechanical habits overcompensating for his blister. He also said Pederson developed poor mechanical habits to his swing that he was unable to bounce out of during the season.

“With both those guys, you’re not asking them to change and become someone that they’re not,” Friedman said. “It’s much easier when you’re to trying to figure out how to get someone back to what they were, as opposed to something completely new to them.”

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